City of Green Launches GO Quick Response Team

The City of Green, Summit County Sheriff Department and Summit County ADM Board Launch its GO (Green Outreach) Quick Response Team in Green to Save Lives against Opiate Addiction

Green, OH – Green Mayor Gerard Neugebauer is pleased to announce the launch of the City of Green’s Green Outreach or GO Team, a quick response unit dedicated to offering support, education and assistance to those impacted by heroin and drug abuse. The GO team is comprised of a Green Fire Medic, Summit County Sheriff Deputy and a social worker from the Oriana House. The team will visit the homes where an overdose occurred the prior week.

The initiative is based on a program started by Colerain Township, near Cincinnati, that offers support to those addicted to opiate drugs. In mid-December, the City of Green held a training attended by more than 100 area fire medics, police officers and social workers, to teach those involved how to develop a program to quickly respond to overdoses. As a result of the training, the City of Cuyahoga Falls launched their Quick Response Team earlier this month and other cities around the area are looking into developing teams.

Each week a fire medic, sheriff deputy and social worker will visit homes in Green where overdoses occurred the prior week. As the program launches, the GO Team will visit homes were overdoses have been reported in the past few months.

“Our goal is to help individuals and their families beat this horrible addiction,” said Brian Lloyd, fire medic with the City of Green, GO team volunteer and member of the Cities Without Drugs – Green Task Force. “These drugs are so powerful and have such draw to those addicted that the likelihood of repeat overdoses is significant. This team will save lives.”

The City of Green, like many communities, has seen a rise in overdoses. In 2016, the City of Green fire division responded to 83 drug overdoses. In 2015 and 2014, overdose statistics were 42 and 27, respectively.

“We have to do more than just assist those during an overdose. We need to help prevent overdoses from reoccurring,” said Gerard Neugebauer, mayor of the City of Green. “The City, Summit County Sheriff Department and ADM Board were all quick to embrace the GO Team concept. This is collaboration at its best. I commend our GO team for their dedication to helping save lives.”

To date in 2017, the City of Green has responded to 4 overdoses. The GO Team is also encouraging families in Green to request a visit if needed. GO Team visits may be requested by calling the City of Green Fire Division’s non-emergency number at 330-896-6610.

The City of Green, Ohio, founded in 1992, is a prosperous, progressive and promising city with more than 25,000 residents. Approximately 33.5 square-miles, Green is located in southern Summit County. Visit. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofgreenohio